88 MANDIBULATA. — COLF.OPTERA. 



elytra scarcely broader than the thorax at the base, dilated in the middle, the 

 apex obtusely rounded, slightly convex, pitchy-black, and rather glossy, 

 somewhat deeply punctate-striate, the interstices a little rugose: near the 

 suture on each elytron is a lunate patch, composed of a dense cinereous pu- 

 bescence, and at the apex a minute round one of similar character : body pale 

 nigro-p"ceus beneath : legs and antennae ferruginous. 



Rare near London ; specimens have been captured in Coombe- 

 wood and other places within the metropolitan district. " Under 

 the bark of ash (near Swansea) . ,1 — L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. " In 

 plenty on an old ash at Kimpton." — Rev, G. T. Rudd. " Netley, 

 &c"—Rev. F. W. Hope. 



Genus CL. — Triplax, Payhul. 



Antennae rather short, stout, the basal joint a little incrassated; the second to the 

 seventh short, of nearly equal length and bulk; the eighth slightly larger, 

 somewhat cup-shaped; the three following form an elongate obtuse club, 

 the two basal joints of which are transverse, the terminal ovate, obtuse. Palpi 

 unequal, short, the terminal joint securiform : head triangular, slightly con- 

 vex : eyes a little prominent : thorax convex, the lateral margins entire, the 

 base nearly as broad as that of the elytra, the latter oblong-ovate, entire : body 

 elongate-ovate: legs rather short, simple: tarsi obscurely four-jointed, the 

 third joint bilobed, the fourth hidden within the lobe of the third. 



Notwithstanding the species of this genus possess but four arti- 

 culations to the tarsi, the present is doubtless the natural situation 

 of the genus, as in several of the allied genera the fourth joint is 

 more or less obsolete and occasionally completely wanting, while 

 the insects, in common with many others of the family, are found 

 almost exclusively in fungi and similar vegetable productions. 



Sp. 1. russica. Oblongo-ovata, rufo-ferruginea, nitida, antennis, elytris, pectore 

 scutelloque nigris. (Long. corp. 2^ — 3 lin.) 



Si. russica. Linne. — Tr. russica. Steph. Catal. 88. No. 950. 



Oblong-ovate ; glabrous, shining : head rufous, punctate : eyes black : thorax 

 bright rufous, slightly punctate : scutellum black : elytra glossy black, faintly 

 punctate-striated, the interstices smooth: breast blue-black, shining, punctate: 

 abdomen glossy rufo-ferruginous ; legs rufo-ferruginous, with the base of the 

 femora dusky : antenna black. 



Considerably larger than either of the other species of this genus, with the breast 

 black. 



Not very abundant near London : I have once or twice captured 

 it at Coombe-wood, and in hedges near Darenth. " Occasionally 

 taken on fungi (near Swansea), and by Mr. Millard near Bristol, 



